Antileishmanial activity of mycobacillin.

Mycobacillin, a cyclic polypeptide antifungal antibiotic effectively inhibits the growth of promastigote form of the protozoal organism, Leishmania donovani, strain 81 in liquid medium. Oxygen uptake by intact cells of the protozoa with exogenous glucose is appreciably reduced within first 30 minutes in presence of the antibiotic at a concentration of 15 microng/ml. Appreciable leakage of intracellular 260 nm and 280 nm absorbing materials takes place from the protozoan cells incubated with the antibiotic at similar concentration.